Whether Hakim Fakhoury's Dearborn Village Partners gets an extension as a preferred developer in the city is an issue that is as complicated as it is divisive. Some, like Councilman Abraham and many others, believe Fakhoury is a man with a vision for Dearborn. At the very least, he's seen as the only developer around willing to invest money in the city.His detractors, and there are many in this town, say Mr. Fakhoury has helped spur the decline of the west Dearborn business district. They cite the DVP's rancorous relationship with many tenants, their long list of decaying still-undeveloped properties and they point to unattractive new buildings (like the one on Michigan and Military) that have sat mostly empty now for years. Of course, there is also the issue of unpaid taxes on Fakhoury-held properties along Michigan Avenue. In the case of the DVP, many say nothing is actually better than something.
The vote on the Dearborn Village Partners' preferred status extension is scheduled for tonight, Monday, December 21st at 5:35pm in the Mayor's Conference Room at Dearborn City Hall. Residents are invited to attend the meeting, ask questions and voice their opinion on this issue.
It promises to be a spirited meeting, to say the least.
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22 comments:
I just can't understand how this is even a question. Empty buildings, bad tenant relationships AND tax delinquency???
VOTE NO!!!
Hakim says he'll bring in 600 students living in his apartments and a huge eMagine Theater. Hmmmm. When's Fatburger opening again? And when can we expect that piano bar in the old Tux Shop?
I can't wait to see the tap dancing show Hakim puts on at tonight's meeting!!
It's amazing that some don't see the forest from the trees. Fakhoury owns the buildings and the lots he wants to develop are behind the buildings. These buildings take up most of that block. Times are tough all over. No one is building in that downtown and no one is building hardly anywhere. If his preferred developer agreement is extended and he builds, he will have to pay the back taxes. To me, it's a no brainer to vote yes.
I think the question is: do we want more Fakhoury developments in this town? Do we want the ugly buildings and the grandiose plans that always seem to lead to nowhere? He's transforming Dearborn, there's no doubt about that-but for the worse. You're right, Jim. It's a no-brainer. Vote "no."
It doesn't matter how they vote. The area will look the same next December. Let Fakhoury take down the rat traps, fill the vacancies, pay his taxes and move on.
Has the cost of the student housing been mentioned. The students who go to UM Dearborn and Henry Ford Community usually live at home. It is not Ann Arbor that has a need for housing.
A lot of ideas look good on paper. The reality is, sometimes, totally different.
It's ludicrous to simply leave those buildings sitting empty. Something is better than nothing, whether or not you like the developer or his past projects.
Absolutely disagree, Jim. Something is not better than nothing in this case. Fakhoury's new buildings already sit empty. He has proven unable to attract businesses to his properties already. Why give him license to build more crap?
By the way, I don't know the guy so I have no opinion about him personally, but I'm no fan of his businesses.
Lets see, as of now, there are no published results of the Federal charges he, Ahmed and Hassan Haraji and others are facing for rackteering...maybe it's nothing, right?
http://dockets.justia.com/search?query=hakim+fakhoury&search=Search&stateorcourt=court-miedce&lawsuittype=
Or possibly his tax payments for 7 properties on the west side got lost in the mail.
Heck, even the maintenance of, pick one, say the Vic Tanny site just slipped his mind...
Astonishing that anyone residing in this town would endorse, rather than admonish this clown.
He got lucky with Panera... is in lawsuits with Caliente and Ciao, lost the framing shop, the bridal salon in the Wagner building, is holding the Olive hostage to a lease they want to break, lost weight watchers, Brother's tuxedo, Two Hot Tanning, and recently installed Bora Bora in with the Parisian Bistro which, I am told, will be lucky to survive 6 months; not to mention Buffalo Wild Wings numbers are some of the worst in the region...
Well at least we have Starbucks...we'll have one place to gather when everything else is closed...but then Starbucks isn't his tenant, is it?
Oh what I'd give to walk through Jacobsons...
dozer
These projects are viable and on the other blog, builders supporting him have told us such. Unless council members or other city department heads have someone to replace him or have any better ideas, I say we go ahead with his development, regardless of what other state.
just an after thought, why isn't this being brought up at a televised Council meeting. Is the meeting tonight being recorded. I hope so. I wouldn't want to see the city accused of any improprieties.
Maybe the council and city officials should talk to some of his former tenants. Would they get an earfull.
Jim, I think it's clear that 'other blog' is a mouthpiece for Fakhoury and the city so I'm not sure I'd use it as a source. And again, I'll continue to disagree with your basic premise that something is better than nothing. I think the city should take a long-term approach here.
Whats a year anyway, give it to this company and see what happens.
nice picture tho.. deeelish..
Michigan Avenue Man is exactly right, something is not always better than nothing and the city should be looking at things in the long run. Mayor O'Reilly has made it clear that he's only into short term bandaging and not a long term redefining of what the city and that downtown area can be. Maybe that's why there's a lack of developers willing to invest in that part of the city.
My guess is Fakhoury gets his extension and we either get the same derelict buildings rotting away for another year or a construction site that drags on for years and ends up empty when finally completed.
In case anyone has forgotten, the Dearborn Theater is no longer serving popcorn or movies.
And why is that? Demographics? Netflix and Home Theater? I don't know that answer, but the demographics west of Telegraph, while possibly slightly different, cannot be that different than west of it. (note to emagine theater management)
No one has a crystal ball, but I wonder how long the builders of the Dearborn Theater (or the Calvin) expected them to survive?
If the trend is away from big theaters, we can expect to fire up the wrecking ball again down the line...5, 10, 20 years?
Secondly,
I must have missed something, but is there truly a pent-up demand for student housing in West Dearborn? And doesn't the U have it's own parking lot they could convert to contain dorms/apts?
Seems worth mentioning the parking for the proposed 600 student on TOP of the patrons of the theater... Maybe they could be convince to park in Humpty and Dumpty (props to Doug Thomas) over on Newman? Maybe not. Guess they will have to widen Garrison, and put in traffic lights there hmm?
Giving HK preferred status is to assure him a Monopoly on this area. Which seems entirely consistent with the Monopoly Game he has played with Dearborn for years now.
Note to Council: We had 2 movie theaters. One burned to the ground under mysterious circumstances, the other closed quietly and is now collecting dust.
If the city wants to do something heroic, put something on the Dearborn Theater corner...Wendys is dead, and the property from Chuckie Cheese to the old Stanford Caddliac is tenuous at best.
Which brings up a whole other topic: that hotel/motel eyesore under construction just West of the vacant Stanford Caddy location...what ARE they building in front of it?
Serenity now...serenity now...
Merry Christmas to All...
dozer
The other blog might be a mouthpiece for Fakhoury but the people who respond to it are just as upset as most of the people here.
Cloe, I think I overstated the 'mouthpiece' comment. I know everyone has strong opinions on this and everyone is doing what they think is right for Dearborn.
Correction: I had intended to suggest that the demographics "east" of Telegraph are likely at least similar to those "west" of it.
dozer
DeepSaidWhat IS soo far up City Halls Arse LOL.. touche
hey dozer, your agenda is showing. Where do you get the idea that Buffalo Wild Wings has some of the worst numbers in the region? It's packed every single time I've been in there in the past year. Monday night? Packed. Saturday afternoon? Packed. Thursday evening? Packed. Friday night? Packe. And I've linked to a story in the P&G from less than a year ago saying their numbers are in fact up.
Mr Christmas, I'd say your agenda is not exactly well-hidden and with all that time spent at Buffalo Wild Wings, I hope you're hitting the gym. A lot.
Oops, I guess I didn't link to a story.
Now I have.
And what would my agenda be, Michigan Avenue Man? Promoting a great place like Buffalo Wild Wings? Guilty.
And what's with the insult? I'm young, I go to the bars with my friends, I go out to eat with my friends, yes we go to BW3 quite a bit. That's what makes for a successful downtown: repeat business and young people.
My agenda: Highest and best use.
dozer
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